Signs of an anal fissure
How is it treated?
An 'anal fissure' is a superficial tear or small ulcer just inside the anus near where the smooth skin of the bowel (mucous membrane) meets the normal skin of the outside of the anus. It is usually situated in the midline of the anus, at the base of the anal opening. The medical profession will sometimes refer to it as a 'fissure-in-ano'.
Anal fissures can develop in any person at any time of their life through straining and passing large bowel motions, including young children suffering from severe constipation, sometimes bleeding a little with it. For some women an anal fissure can form with the stretching of the anus during a vaginal birth.
Signs of an anal fissure
An anal fissure generally causes a sharp pain when opening the bowels. The pain can persist for several minutes up to 1 to 2 hours afterwards. The fissure can also bleed slightly. Sometimes a fissure can be confused with
haemorrhoids after the birth, except there are no bulging veins present.
Because it is normal for the woman not to need to open her bowels for about 2 to 3 days after the birth, she may not realise she has an anal fissure until this time. An anal fissure will usually heal within 2 to 4 weeks but for some women they can continue to be painful and irritating for months and even years after the birth.